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Annals of the Smithsonian Institution 1 999 



Highlights of Corporate Philanthropy 



Partnerships with the business community are expanding as 

 corporations recognize the many ways the Smithsonian can 

 invigorate their employees and improve the quality of life for 

 people across rhe globe. 



This year, the Corporate Membership Program continued 

 to grow and now counts 75 members who represent a wide 

 range of industries and geographic locations. At the pro- 

 gram's annual luncheon in June, held at the Department of 

 State, Smithsonian Regent Howard H. Baker Jr. awarded 

 membership certificates to 24 new members. Polo Ralph 

 Lauren was recognized with the annual Corporate Leadership 

 Award for irs support of rhe Star-Spangled Banner Preserva- 

 tion Project. 



In 1999, the Corporate Membership Program raised more 

 than $ 1 million for unrestricred use and served as a basis for 

 further partnerships between the Smithsonian and the busi- 

 ness community. The Institution's successful work in this area 

 has begun to open new doors for exchange. Many corpora- 

 tions entered into innovative parrnerships, from Sourhern 

 Company's donation of electric vehicles to the National Zoo, 

 to Pfizer Inc's support of the popular interactive exhibition 

 "Microbes: Invisible Invaders, Amazing Allies." The generos- 

 ity of the business community has a substantial and positive 

 impact on the work of the Smithsonian, and through these 

 partnerships, we are able to explore new Technologies, reach 

 new audiences, and study mutually beneficial approaches to 

 our world. 



To clarify guidelines whereby the Smirhsonian may bene- 

 fit from corporate support while maintaining its integrity 

 and autonomy, a corporate sponsotship policy now elaborates 

 on different ways corporations can work with the Institution. 



Foundations 



Foundations continued to invest in Smithsonian programs 

 and services this year, finding through the Smithsonian a 

 multitude of pathways for reaching different audiences. 

 Work continues to target key programs through which the 

 Smithsonian can leverage foundation support to make a dif- 

 ference to the lives of citizens of the National Capital region, 

 around the country, and throughout the world. 



The range of foundation types and the scale and focus of 

 projects they supported were as comprehensive as the Smith- 

 sonian itself. To name a few, the John S. and James L. Knight 

 Foundation supported the Smithsonian Institution Traveling 

 Exhibition Service's Museum on Main Street program, which 

 takes Smithsonian resources to rural communities; The 

 Eberly Family Charitable Trust created the stunning Eberly 

 Minerals and Gems Gallery, an extraordinary resource for 

 learning about geologic phenomena; The Hill Family Foun- 

 dation suppotted the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture 

 Garden's "Regarding Beaury" exhibition, a 90-work show 

 with 36 international artists that will explore the age-old 

 concept of beauty as a topic and issue for art making; the 

 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supporred the Smithsonian 

 Tropical Research Institute's plant ecological research; and 



the John D. and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation funded 

 the Center for Tropical Forest Science, which provides an 

 overview of environmental change and conservation issues 

 through its long-term monitoring of forest plots. 



Smithsonian Benefactors Circle 



In October, the Smithsonian Benefactors Circle enjoyed a 

 black-tie dinnet and gave its annual award to the Kenneth 

 E. Behting family for irs $20 million gift to the National 

 Museum of Natural History. The gift will resonate for years 

 to come through the museum's renovated Behring Family 

 Rotunda and Kenneth E. Behring Hall of Mammals, as well 

 as through traveling programs that will raise awareness 

 about mammals, their habitats, and their interactions with 

 humans. 



Smithsonian Women's Committee 



Once again, the annual Smithsonian Craft Show, which in 

 1 999 was chaired by Margaret Collins, demonstrated why it 

 remains rhe mosr prestigious juried craft show in the nation. 

 The volunteers of rhe Women's Committee, which is chaired 

 by Millicenr Mailliard, staged the spectacular event in April 

 at the National Building Museum, bringing in record num- 

 bers of attendees and raising nearly $335,000 for the 

 commirtee's competitive grants program. 



In turn, more rhan $319,000 from the 1998 show was 

 distribured in the spring to an extraordinarily wide range of 

 worthwhile Smithsonian programs, providing seed money 

 and small grants to projects that otherwise might never leave 

 the drawing board. From film preservation to specialized 

 training for students, this grant program continues to fill a 

 valuable funding need at the Institution. 



Smithsonian Washington Council 



The Smithsonian Washington Council is a group of area 

 civic and philanthropic leaders working toward strengthen- 

 ing the Smithsonian's ties and services to the National 

 Capital region. Chaired by Washington attorney R. Robert 

 Linowes, the group meets regularly with the Secretary. This 

 year, members made a gift in support of a lectute series at 

 the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center for the 

 1999—2000 season and also made several gifts for the Insti- 

 tution's unrestricted use. 



Smithsonian Legacy Society 



The Smithsonian Legacy Society, chaited by Gloria Hamil- 

 ton, also grew this year, holding its second annual luncheon 

 and meering ar the National Museum of American History 

 in November. The group honors supporters who carry on 

 James Smithson's tradition through gifts such as bequests, 

 charitable gift annuities, and life insurance plans. This year, 

 Legacy Society member Karl Hagen's generous bequest ben- 

 efited the National Air and Space Museum. 



